Bracklinn Sonny Jim, the Royal Windsor M&M in-hand champion, pictured with his breeder Alistair Smith plus Horse & Hound representatives Nicola McClure and Martha Terry.
Five-year-old Fell stallion Bracklinn Sonny Bill secured the 2026 Windsor M&M in-hand championship, led by his breeder Alistair Smith in the Castle Arena.
The Horse & Hound supreme mountain and moorland (M&M) in-hand championship at Royal Windsor Horse Show is always a treat and this year proved no different.
The young stallion, known at home as Guardian, is owned by Leah Cassell, who fell in love after spotting him at a Fell Pony Society show as a foal.
He is currently in his novice season under saddle with Hollie Mcgauley, who was there along with Leah’s mum Lindsay to watch the momentous victory.
“As soon as I saw him, I was like, ‘Mum, Hollie – I want him,” Leah said. “From that day on, we were talking about getting him, and then we finally managed to get him and he came home to us.
“Since then, it’s just been a dream. We’ve never won a championship quite as big as this.”
Guardian has taken well to the ridden job.
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“As soon as we got on him, you just knew he loved doing it,” Hollie said.
“As a four-year-old, he used to watch the riddens in the arena, and he’d just stand and watch like, ‘I’m going to do this one day then’.”
Leah added: “He’s been really straightforward”.
Guardian is by Bracklinn Jackpot and out of Auckside Poppy.
His proud breeder and handler, Alistair, said: “It’s a brilliant atmosphere and to come down and be able to show a homebred pony here that these girls have done a great job producing, I’ve had a great day.
“I can take no credit for the way he looks, that’s down to them.”
Guardian graduated to the supreme after taking the fell championship earlier in the day, in front of The King’s home-bred three-year-old filly Windsor Curlew, shown by Lizzie Briant.
Reserve in the 2026 Windsor M&M in-hand championship was the ever-consistent Welsh section A Hoekhorst Example (Harry).
Harry is owned by Jennifer Hughes, and was led by his producer Aliya Khan. The stallion was also breed champion here last year, and reigned supreme at Windsor in 2024. He has also won under saddle at the Royal Welsh Show five times.
Aliya said: “It’s my first time leading him. He’s the easiest, quietest stallion. You don’t know you have him around. He’s really cool.”
While Harry is a seasoned competitor here, it was Aliya’s first time in the main ring at Royal Windsor.
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